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\F2\CARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LABORATORY
\CCOMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
\CSTANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305
\F0




\C17 March 1973




Mr. Stephen Mitchell
Computer Science Editor
\F3SRA
College Division
\F01540 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

\J	Here are my comments on \F1The Little Lisp'er\F0:

	1. For the part of LISP it covers, it is generally accurate.

	2. Like all programmed texts, it is quite long-winded for what it
covers.

	3. I don't know who would use it.  I doubt that it would be used as
a text, because it is incomplete, but it might be used as a starter.  It might
also be used as a general interest science book, but I fear that it doesn't
provide enough motivation for learning LISP.

	4. Its major defect, granted its style, is that it never discusses
LISP functions that produce functions or interpret functions.  This is the
pay-off for the inconvenience of having to write LISP functions as LISP
data.  I think the author could write a small chapter illustrating this.

	5. Don't forget the $50. \.

					Sincerely yours,



					John McCarthy
					Professor of Computer Science